Mike Tyson has admitted he feared he would have to use a wheelchair for the rest of his life as he prepares to face Jake Paul later in the year.

The 57-year-old looks in outstanding shape ahead of the bout, with fans blown away by his punching power. But Tyson has had some issues with his back in recent years, with the icon snapped in a wheelchair back in 2022. He later revealed he has sciatica, a back condition that typically affects people between the ages of 30 and 50.

And Tyson, speaking in a video uploaded to his Instagram story, has now shed light on his struggles. Iron Mike says it’s a ‘miracle’ that he’ll be returning to the ring, having feared he’d be forced to use a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

“Listen, it’s a miracle. I didn’t know what was going to happen in my life,” he said. “I was scared I was going to be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. “You get so…I don’t want to say depressed. Discouraged. “Your back hurts, there’s nothing I can do. I’m useless.”

Tyson last fought Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition match back in 2020, with that clash ending in a draw. Paul, however, will be a tough test – especially with the 27-year-old a huge 30 years his junior. Many have criticised the pair for going up against each other, with Deontay Wilder concerned Tyson could end up in a coma. Yet that won’t deter the boxing legend from stepping into the ring, with the veteran eager to roll back the years in July.

Speaking last month, Tyson said those criticising himself and Paul were simply ‘jealous’. “I’m 58, and what? I’m getting billions of views from just talking about fighting,” he told Reuters. “Everybody, even most of the athletes, they’re jealous… You couldn’t sell out an arena.

“But if he fought them, the only people that will come are the people that like him. “Their parents might not even come watch them. And Tyson doubled down while speaking at a press conference in New York last week. He said: “The people who said that [I am too old to fight] wish that they were up here. “No one else can do this. Who else can do this? Who else can shut the sporting world down? No one else can do it.

“You got the both of us, so we’re going to do this. We’re friends. There’s no doubt we’re friends. “But in the ring, we’re not going to be friends. That’s just what it is.”